Pet litter scoop and disposal device

Abstract

A pet litter scoop and disposal device includes a container and a bag. The container has an open top end shaped to act as a scoop for scooping up pet litter. The bag has a first portion sized and shaped for lining the inner surface of the container, and a second portion sized and shaped to be folded back over the outer surface of the container for covering the hand of the user holding the container during use. The bag includes a closure for closing the upper end of the bag, comprising a pair of loops extending from the open end of the bag. The loops are preferably shaped to form a handle sized to fit over the hand of the user. The container preferably includes a holding bay at the base of the container for holding an uppermost portion of the bag so as to store the second portion of the bag against the outer surface of the container prior to deployment.

I claim:  
     
       1. A pet litter scoop and disposal device comprising: 
       (a) a container having an open top end, a closed bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the open top end of the container being shaped to act as a scoop for scooping up pet litter; and  
       (b) a bag having an open upper end and a closer lower end, the bag having a first portion sized and shaped for lining the inner surface of the container and a second portion sized and shaped to be folded back over the outer surface of the container for covering a hand of a user holding the container during use;  
       (c) wherein the bag comprises a closure extending from the open upper end of the bag for closing the bag after use; and  
       (d) wherein the container comprises a holding bay adjacent the bottom end of the container sized for holding an uppermost part of the bag so that the second portion of the bag is stored against the outer surface of the container prior to deployment.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a pair of loops positioned on opposite sides of the open end of the bag, the loops being shaped to be tied together to close the bag. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein the pair of loops are shaped to form a handle having aligned loops defining an opening sized to allow a hand of the user to be inserted therethrough. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein the holding bay comprises a recess in the bottom end of the container. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the container is of a flexible material that can be flattened for easy transport. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  wherein the bag is of a plastic material. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the container is of a paperboard material. 
     
     
       8. A pet litter scoop and disposal device comprising: 
       a) a container having an open top end, a closed bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the open top end of the container being shaped to act as a scoop for scooping up pet litter; and  
       b) a bag having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the bag having a first portion sized and shaped for lining the inner surface of the container and a second portion sized and shaped to be folded back over the outer surface of the container for covering a hand of a user holding the container during use;  
       c) wherein the second portion of the bag includes an uppermost part which extends beyond the bottom end of the container when the second portion is folded back thereover; and  
       d) wherein the container comprises a holding bay adjacent the bottom end of the container sized for holding the uppermost part of the bag so that the second portion of the bag is stored against the outer surface of the container prior to use.  
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8  wherein the holding bay comprises a recess in the bottom end of the container. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the bag comprises a closure extending from the upper end of the bag for closing the bag after use. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises a pair of loops positioned on opposite sides of the open end of the bag, the loops being shaped to be tied together to close the bag. 
     
     
       12. A pet litter scoop and disposal device comprising: 
       (a) a container having a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, a bottom panel, and inner surface, and an outer surface; and  
       (b) a bag having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the bag having a first portion sized and shaped for lining the inner surface of the container and a second portion sized and shaped to be folded back over the outer surface of the container for covering the hand of a user holding the container during use;  
       (c) wherein the side panels each have a longitudinally extending fold line and the bottom panel has a transversely extending fold line, so that the container may be expanded from a collapsed, flattened state to an open state by inwardly squeezing the side panels, and inwardly pressing the bottom panel;  
       (d) wherein the second portion of the bag includes an uppermost part which extends beyond the bottom end of the container when the second portion is folded back thereover; and  
       (e) wherein the bottom end of the container has at least one opening sized so as to enable the uppermost part of the bag to be tucked therein, so that the second portion of the bag is stored adjacent the outer surface of the container prior to use.  
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12  wherein the fold lines are lines of perforations. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 12 , wherein each side panel comprises a pair of longitudinal creases to delimit the the side panels from the front and rear panels, and the bottom panel comprises a pair of transverse creases to delimit the bottom panel from the front and rear panels, the creases running alongside the respective fold lines. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the crease lines delimiting the bottom panel from the front and rear panels follow an inwardly curving arc such that the bottom panel snaps into and maintains a convex profile when the container is expanded from its collapsed, flattened state. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the container further comprises a shovel-shaped scoop portion extending from the rear panel at the open end of the container.